Exclusives

Hungary and Slovakia expand Russian fuel use while EU cuts imports. New findings show both countries increasing reliance on oil, gas, and nuclear fuel from Russia despite available alternatives.

Russia just spent $ 3 mn to blow up planes that don’t even fly. Ukraine’s 1970s drone shotguns were so vexing that Russia decided to blow them into bits with a $3mn Iskander missile. But an epic intel failure got in the way.

Military

A Russian marine base 6,000+ km from Ukraine exploded — Kyiv takes credit. Two blasts hit a Russian base near Vladivostok. Ukraine says it was their operation. Russia blames a propane-filled car.

Russian army attacks trolleybus depot in Kharkiv, Nova Poshta terminal in Odesa with drones. Russian attacks on Kharkiv and its oblast injured 10 people overnight, damaged 30 residential buildings and 19 trolleybuses

Frontline report: Baltic seabed shows growing scars from Russia’s hybrid sabotage. A sanctioned Russian-linked vessel operating under an Antiguan flag was detected maneuvering near a 600-megawatt undersea power line connecting Poland and Sweden, prompting immediate Polish military intervention.

ISW: Russia delays submitting peace terms to pressure Ukraine on timing and terms. Russian officials are withholding their peace memorandum to potentially blame Ukraine for stalling negotiations if Kyiv refuses to attend a 2 June meeting in Istanbul.

As of 30 MAY 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

Personnel: 986080 (+1140)

Tanks: 10865 (+1)

APV: 22647 (+2)

Artillery systems: 28421 (+35)

MLRS: 1398 (+1)

Anti-aircraft systems: 1172 (+1)

Aircraft: 372

Helicopters: 336

UAV: 38070 (+71)

Cruise missiles : 3265

Warships/boats: 28

Submarines: 1

Vehicles and fuel tanks: 50089 (+74)

Special equipment: 3902 (+0)

Intelligence and technology

The Telegraph: Ukrainian drones prove most tanks are garbage – but not all are dead yet. Drones are tearing through outdated armour. The smart tanks aren’t done yet.

The Telegraph: EU eyes Black Sea spy hub to track Putin’s warships—and any glimmer of ceasefire. Europe is rolling out a new Black Sea plan with eyes on Russian ships—and any sign of peace.

Ukraine plans full production of Czech BREN 2 assault rifles. Czech sources confirm a gradual shift from simple licensed assembly to full production.

International

Erdogan makes urgent call to Zelenskyy as Istanbul braces for Russia peace talks. Ahead of the Istanbul talks, Erdogan pressed Zelenskyy to hold direct talks with Putin and Trump “without delay.”

US senators roll into Kyiv with a plan to make Russian oil 500% more expensive. Graham and Blumenthal brought a plan to drain the Kremlin’s profits with crushing tariffs—just days before peace talks begin in Istanbul.

Russia throws down ceasefire conditions – Istanbul awaits Ukraine’s reply. At the UN, Russia laid out demands ahead of Istanbul talks — Ukraine says the conditions aren’t peace terms at all.

Macron urges US to act: Sanction Russia if it blocks peace. Macron warned that US credibility is on the line if Washington does not act on Russian behavior.

Von der Leyen calls for European independence through defense spending and Ukraine membership. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is enabling up to €800 billion in defense funding as part of a broader independence strategy.

Trump envoy: US open to freeze NATO expansion to help end Russia-Ukraine war. Trump’s special envoy says the US is willing to discuss NATO non-expansion as part of a peace deal with Russia, while the US, UK, France, and Germany will send security advisers to Istanbul for ceasefire talks on 2 June.

US threatens to exit peace talks over war in Ukraine amid escalating Russian attacks. A top US diplomat told the UN Security Council that America’s patience with Russia’s approach to Ukraine peace talks is running thin after weekend missile attacks.

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukrainian teen who saved lives in Sumy attack wins silver at European wrestling championship. After receiving head injuries during a Russian strike in April 2025, 13-year-old Kyrylo Ilyashenko resumed training and won silver in Croatia.

Political and legal developments

RFE/RL: Ukraine’s Top Court judge lives rent-free in luxury apartment her Russian niece bought – with barely any income. Judge Nadiia Stefaniv lives rent-free in a $375,000 Kyiv apartment owned by her Russian niece, who officially earned just $45,000 over eight years.

SBU detains four Kherson residents who worked for Russians during occupation. Among the detained collaborators are a former Kherson city council accountant, who helped organize Russia’s fake referendum, and two men, who voluntarily worked as guards in Russian-run prisons where resistance fighters were held.

Crowd surrounds draft office vehicle after alleged beating incident in Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyi Oblast. About 100 residents of Kamianets-Podilskyi surrounded a draft office vehicle after witnesses said officials beat a young man and struck women with their car.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week, urging Ukraine and Russia to resume presidential negotiations. The call comes just days ahead of a planned round of peace talks in Istanbul on 2 June.

While Moscow has proposed the meeting, Kyiv has not confirmed its participation and continues to insist that Russia publish its proposed peace terms in advance.

Erdogan calls for direct presidential talks “without delay“

According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, the Turkish president told Zelenskyy that direct talks between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia would benefit the peace process and should take place “without further delay.”

Zelenskyy confirmed the call on social media, saying they discussed the potential second round of talks in Istanbul and the conditions under which Ukraine would agree to attend.

“We both agree that this meeting cannot and should not be empty,” Zelenskyy wrote.

He added that they also discussed the possibility of a four-party summit involving the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and the United States.

Zelensky presses for transparency before talks

Zelenskyy has previously proposed a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

Ahead of the first Istanbul meeting, Zelenskyy invited Putin to hold direct talks, but Russia instead sent a delegation led by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky.

Zelenskyy said he also reviewed the outcome of that earlier meeting with Erdogan, noting that its only result was a prisoner exchange.

“A ceasefire must be the basis for further progress toward peace,” he wrote.

An uncertain path to Istanbul

Erdogan echoed that view, saying that discussions around a potential ceasefire at the upcoming talks could help lay the groundwork for peace. He also emphasized the need for strong delegations from both sides.

Ukraine has not formally confirmed it will attend the June 2 talks, though officials in Kyiv say they remain open to negotiations in any format.

Ukrainian authorities continue to call on Moscow to publish its negotiating terms ahead of time, a request the Kremlin has so far refused.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stays silent on his participation in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His missiles speak instead.

On 11 May, the Russian ruler announced his readiness for “direct negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions” — set for 15 May in Turkiye. Yet by 13 May, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dodged questions about Russia’s delegation, saying only that “names will be revealed when Putin deems it necessary.” This vague stance casts doubt on Moscow’s sincerity.

The same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his participation in the upcoming meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara and stated he’s ready to head to Istanbul immediately if needed for direct talks with Vladimir Putin to end the fighting, Hromadske reports.

“We’ll do everything we can to make this meeting happen,” Zelenskyy emphasized, adding that any real agreement must be made directly with the Kremlin’s leader.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and its allies, France, Germany, the UK, Poland, and the US, have called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning 12 May. If not, then European countries will impose more sanctions on Moscow. But Russia’s military aggression continues as Moscow continues to launch drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, according to UkrInform.

Zelenskyy has reminded that Russia has already violated its own signals of willingness to pause fire during Easter and the 8–10 May period. In just those three days, the Russian army launched:

12,100 attacks on Ukrainian territory

115 airstrikes

197 guided aerial bombs

7,303 kamikaze drones on Ukrainian infrastructure

As world leaders call for peace, the Kremlin keeps testing the West’s patience.

Read also Zelenskyy demands Putin attend Istanbul talks, Trump considers joining the summit